Paradise by the beer mug lights
<p>A scene from "The Great American Trailer Park" unfolds on stage at Lake City Playhouse in Coeur d'Alene, where the show will run several more times through April 13. Pictured from left: Aubree Peterson in the role of Pickles; Din Golden, playing Betty; and Charisa Bariether as Lin.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Flash, trash, sass and passion all converge at Armadillo Acres, the cozy and crazy trailer park in "The Great American Trailer Park Musical," now playing at Lake City Playhouse.
It's a story of infidelity, trailer park community gossip and a runaway stripper, with a dash of agoraphobia for good measure.
Norbert (Mark Pleasant) and his wife Jeannie (Alyssa Jordan) are about to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary, but there's a gigantic problem. Jeannie hasn't left the trailer in two decades.
Their lives become more interesting when the sexy exotic dancer Pippi (Hannah Farley) moves into the trailer next door, with crazed ex-boyfriend Duke (Eric McGaughey) hot on her heels. And there to narrate it all through extremely expressive song and dance are the three trailer park looky-loos Betty (Din Golden), Pickles (Aubree Peterson) and Lin (Charisa Bareither).
The humor of "Trailer Park" is largely adult with sexual themes and some explicit language, but director Andrew Renfrew of Post Falls said the response so far has been quite positive. He has even received the "thumbs-up" from several audience members following the show, as well as compliments from people who live in trailer communities in the area.
"That's the joy about this play," Renfrew said. "There's definitely some stuff that you wouldn't admit you relate to it, but then you find yourself giggling."
The setting incorporates what one might imagine to see in a southeastern U.S. trailer park: pink lawn flamingos, ambient outdoor lights shaped like beer mugs, and clothes hanging on the line.
But Renfrew said the story line of "Trailer Park," although fitting in this setting, doesn't have to be restricted to a trailer park in Florida.
"It could happen anywhere," he said. "It could happen in a mansion."
Sunday afternoon's performance was lively and interesting, as Renfrew admitted a few unrehearsed moments occurred. But that's the beauty of live theater, and Renfrew said it was enjoyable to see how the actors recovered and kept the scenes together.
"There were several moments last night that were not normal," he said Monday. "It's fun as a director."
"Trailer Park" opened March 28. Auditions for the comedy took place Jan. 27, with rehearsals beginning soon afterward. Renfrew said the actors all pitched ideas when working through the scenes and injected their own creativity into the actions of their characters.
"It's a total team thing, and that's what I love about directing," he said. "They're all so devoted to it."
"The Great American Trailer Park" continues tonight at 7:30 p.m. with several performances until it closes on April 13. For prices and show times, visit www.lakecityplayhouse.org.
"You'll walk away with it knowing everything was a joke," Renfrew said. "You'll walk away happy."